Heating system



Jan. 5, 1943. L. c. ANDERSON HEATING SYS TEM Filed May 11 1 939 5 sheets -sheet 1 Jan. 5, 1943. L. A ERsw 2,307,723

HEATING SYSTEM" Filed May 11, 1939 .SJSh'ets-Qmet 2 2407367206 .07Z6Z271907z i 7 9 3- L. c. ANDERSON 2,3u7,723

HEATING SYSTEM Filed May 11, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fiuanion" l 8. 07365277502 Jan. 5, 1943. L. c. ANDERSON 2,307,723

HEATING SYSTEM Filed May 11, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheep 4 Jan. 5, L c ANDERSON I HEATING SYSTEM I Filed May 11, 1959 5 Sheets-Shet 5 ELL/ uiz) 7": lad/peace (I. indemv/z Patented Jan. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE,

nearing; SYSTEM Lawrence 0. Anderson, Chicago, 111., assignor to Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 11, 1939,8erial N0. 273,138

16Claims. (01. 237-6) I f roof are positioned blower fans. 24 which draw Among the principal objects'of the'present invention are the following: To provide an entirely automatic modulating heating system for a vehicle which maintains uniform temperatures throughout the vehicle when the heating system air from the car vestibule 25 and discharge into the overhead duct 23. Situated on the discharge is in operation; to provide a highly flexible, safe,

and easily controlled heating system which responds quickly to heat demands; and toprovide simple and highly effective means for controlling a heating system of this type.

Further and other objects and advantages will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds and the description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a portion of a rail car showing the heating system;

Fig, 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through a car showing the heating system employing a modified form of boiler arrangement the car being indicated in broken lines;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the floor heating system and controls for same;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a safety valve suitable for use in the heating system, the valve being diiierent from the one shown in Fig.3:

side of the blower fans 24 and in the overhead duct 23 is an overhead heat radiator 26 for providing overhead heat to the car interior.

In each room 22, floor heating coils 21 are provided, which serve as auxiliary heating units to remove the drafts from the floor area and supplement the overhead heat. Each of the floor heat radiators 21 is connected to a boiler 23, which, in turn, comprisesprimary and secondary chambers 29 and 30 respectively Fig. 3).

As shown in Fig. l, the boilers 28 are mounted on a pipe line 3i, which, in turn, is fed by steam from the train line 32 through transversely extending pipes 33." The steam is fed to the pri- Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the overhead modulating heating system, including the controls for same Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the floor heating system in which thethermostatically and manually controlled valves shown in the previous figures are included inone valve unit;

Fig. '1 is a view of a modified form of the present invention showing in section a boilerhaving a plurality of secondary chambers; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a portion of the steam line under the car showing a plurality of boilers mounted in place and a steam trap between two of the boilers. In compliance with section 4888 oi. the Revised Statutes, specific embodiments of the present invention have been selected for the purpose of disclosure, but it is intended that the appended claims shall be construed as broadly as the prior art will'permit. Referring now to Fig. 1, a railway car I! is shown having an under-frame, generally indicated at II, including a center sill ii, a pair of side frame: I! and I3, and a roof 20. Passing along oi the car is an aisle 2!, on each side of which are rooms 22. Directly over the aisle is a duct 23 extending the full length of the car, and its purpose is to provide car ventilation.

At one end-of the car and adjacent to the f mary-chamber 29 in each boiler, and atthe far end of the last boiler, mounted on pipe line 3|, is a steam trap 34 for removing condensate from the system. Between the steam train line 32 and the boilers 28 are valves 35 for manually controlling the flow of steam into the heating system.

' As shown in Fig. l, the boilers are mounted on a secondary pipe line 3i, which extends adjacent to the side of the car parallel to the train line 32. However, as indicated in Fig. 2, it may be desirable to mount the boilers 23 directly on the empties into the secondary chamber 30 of the boiler; and, between the member 31 and the secondary chamber 30, the return line is split to' form two parallel paths 40 and 4|, which againjoin at 42 to empty into the secondary chamber 33. Thus, the floor heating system includes the primary heating chamber 29 of the boiler and a closed vapor heating system, including the secondary chamber 30, riser 36, floor heatradiator 21, .and'the return line 33 with its two, parallel branches 0 and ll. A volatile liquid is placed in'the closed vapor heating system and serves as the agent for transferring heat from the primary chamber 23 of the boiler to the exchange relationship with respect to chamber 23, so that any liquid vapor in chamber 30 comes radiator 21. Chamber 30 of the boiler is in heat responsive to excessive able. In this type of valve, a bellows ll a valve member 52 through valvestem II to close it, through which the condensate to'the secondary chamber 3| vapor heatin system,

' line 1| the return line,

in contact-with thew; walls oi chamber :0, becomes vaporized, and ascends through riser ll into the radiator 21. The transfer oi the 1 heat from the vapor in radiator 21 to the room .to be heated causes condensation of the vapor which flows through return and branch lines 30 and ll respectively to the valve 3, which, if open, permits the condensate to flow back. to the secondary chamber 30. Valve 43 responds to the operation oi a room thermostat M; and, when room heating is not required. valve closes to trap the condensate in branch line lll, thereby preventing the liquid ethylalcohol from returning to the secondary chamber 30 or the boiler. In this manner, room heating ceases.

A manually controlled valve 46 is placed in the second branch line ll of the return line 80,

ll of the return line. Manually controlled valve 13 is normally closed, so that the normal operation of the heating system is controlled by thermostatically operated valve H.

this valve being normally in a closed position,

If, however, valve 48 is closed and for any reason the occupant of the room desires room heating, he-operates valve it manually to allow the liquid ethyl alcohol to return through branch linell .tothe secondary chamber ll oi the boiler.

, In the operation-oi this type or heating system, there is considerable danger or attaining excessive pressures in the vapor system. Consequently, a safety shut-oi! valve 41 is provided in Some suitable volatile liquid, such as ethyl alcohol, is employed in the closed vapor heating system for transferring heat from the primary chamber 88 to the radiator 26; and, as this liquid comes in contact with the hot-walls of chamber 58, it vaporizes and ascends through vertical riser 60 and is discharged into the top header of the radiator 26. .The vapor is then cooled by contacting the colder surfaces of the radiator and descends through pipes 62, condensing in the lower header 6|, 9. portion of the total chargecollecting in chamber 65 and the'remainder in 66, so that a portion only of the total charge of volatile liquid is under the control of the valves 13 or 14 after the system is once placed into operation until such time as all or it has again been collected in the return line'il.

Valve I4 responds to the action of an overhead thermostat I5 located in the overhead heating the return line to the boiler. This valve has a the' passage flows in returning of the boiler. The-bellows Si is backed by a coil spring 5|, whose tension is initially adjusted by manipulation ot a threaded bolt I. to operate in resp nse to a this predetermined pressure'is reached in the the resistance ol'spring H is overcome by the pressure in the bellows II, thereby expanding the bellows and closing the passage 54 to restrict the flow of condensate backto the secondary chamber 01 the boiler.

The overhead radiator 28 is connected to the boiler lHPigs. 1 and 5) having a primary chamoi which is connected by means of a riser Cl onto the radiator 23; As best shown in F18. 5.

vertical pipes 62, the latter of which are surrounded by flns 63 .to provide'large radiating surfaces. The lower header I is separated at the center by a partition 84' so that this header is divided into two separate chambers 08 and IS. A pair of return lines i1 and '6! extend from chambers 85 and 66 respectively of the radiator I! to the secondary chamber I! of the boiler,

ands

. II. On the discharge side of this receiver, re-

turn line 81 branches out'tc form two parallel lines ll and H, whch merge again into a common return line 12 before discharging into the secondary chamber 58 of the boiler.- A manually controlled valve I3 is located in the branch and a thermostatically controlled valve I4 is placed in the branch line ethyl alcohol in the vapor predetermined pressure. Ii'

duct (Fig. 1) and, when car heating is required, the valve, 14 opens the passage through the branch line H to permit the volatile liquid to flow from the receiver 69 through the safety valve 41 into secondary chamber 59 of the boiler 51. When heat is no longer required, the

valve 14' closes, and that portion of the con- I densate collecting in chamber 65 of. the radiator ,two bellows I6 and II. The expandingsnd v her It and a secondary chamber 59, the latter "is trapped in the receiver-69, while the remainder or the condensate collecting in chamber It returns to the boiler through return line 68. In this way, when the thermostat 15 ceases calling for heating, the system shuts off gradu- A ally, thereby producing a modulating heating eflect.

Should the occupant of the room desire heat at a time when the thermostat is not calling for heat, manipulation or the hand operated valve V 13 opens the return line through branch passage II to place the heating'system into operation.

In the modified iorm oi the invention shown in Fig. 6, the thermostatically and manually controlled valves are incorporated into one valve unit. In this arrangement, the thermostat oomprises a bellows IO, which responds to room temperature conditions to regulate the liquid pressure in'bello'ws 11. The liquid employed is some light oil which fills the tube 18 connecting the contracting'oibellows l1 against the resistance of a spring ll operates a lever 80, which is fulcrumed at Ii, to move the permanent magnet 82 through an arm '3 and magnet supporting memthe radiator comprises an upper and lower header 6| and ti respectively, connected by her M. In this iorm,'the retum'line 39 is not divided into parallel paths; as is the form shown in Fig. 3, but instead it 93 535 directly to the boiler 28. A valve stem 85 is bounded by soft iron blocks 8, which are in the form of a ring surrounding the valve member and serve as receiver 8! is positioned in the return line the armature in the field oi the magnet 82. A

sleeve of non-magnetic material 81 surrounds the armature I6 and provides a restricted area lnwhich the armature operates. When the magnet 82 is raised in response to the thermostat 18,. the armature 86 follows the movement of the magnet; and, when it strikes outwardly projecting lugs 88 on the valve member 85, it raises this member from the valve seat to open the passage from the radiator 21f to the boiler.

The thermostatic element per se shown in- Fig. 6 forms no part or the presentinvention. There are many forms of adjustable thermostats that would serve equally well. but the one shown is simple and is suitable for illustration purposes.

.The thermostatic bellows I3 is adjusted by.

manipulating the lever 90, which operates against a spring 9| to expand or contract bellows 92; and the variance in the displacement of a gas in housing 93, which contains both the bellows 15. A spring I55 may be required between bellows 92 and bellows I5 to effect the adjustment of bellows I5 by movement of bellows 32.

If for any reason the occupant .of the room wishes to control the operation of the heating system at a time when the car thermostat is not calling for heating, he raises the magnet 32 by means 'of the manual control arm 39, which is connected to the magnet supporting frame 34. This manual operation is entirely independent of the thermostatically controlled means.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the radiator 21 is in the form of a closed coil;

- and the joining member 31' in this instance is in the form of a T. The operation of this radiator, however, in the vapor heating system is identical to the form shown in Fig. 3.

manually controlled valve shown in Figs. 3 and 5 comprises a base 94, having an intake port 95, an

outlet 96 with a passage connecting the two, a

housing 91 secured to the base 94 and sealed at its point or juncture. a permanent magnet 93, and a magnet supporting member 39 to which is attached a flexible cable Ill surrounded by a casing II. The housing 91 is sealed at the top. as indicated at I92. A valve stem I93 is surrounded by a soft iron ring I04, which in turn serves as the armature in the niagnetic field. A pair of lugs I05 project outwardly at the top of The - I6 and 92, varies the initial setting of the bellows The thermostat 44 may comprise a bimetallic strip I22, which makes contact with a contactormember I23 when car heating is required to complete the circuit to the electromagnet H5; and electric current for this circuit is furnished-by source ofcurrent Ii4.

The temperature of operation of the'thermostat may be varied by moving the contact mem-" ber I23 relative to the bimetallic strip I22.

It may be desirable to employ a single boiler for a plurality of car heating coils, thereby avoiding the necessity of supplying a separate boiler for each car radiator.

Referring to Fig. 7, the boilerisindicated at I39 and has a steam inlet I3I and an outlet I32, the latter of which may be provided with a steam trap I33 for discharging water from the system.

The boiler I33 is equipped with secondary cham- I bars I34, I35, and I33, which receive the volatile the'valve stem I03, so that, when the armature" I94 is raised by movement of the magnets 93, it contacts the lugs I05 to raise the valve stem 01! the valve, the knob I01, which is situated in the room to be heated, is manually pulled, which raises permanent magnet 33, thereby causing the armature I04 to follow the upward movement of the magnet 99 to raise the valve stem I93. and

open the passage through the valve. In this way, the heating system is manually controlled at times when control of the heating system is desired before the thermostat functions.

Between the permanent magnet 90 and the armature I04, a non-metallic tube I09 is inserted and sealed into the valve base at I II; and across the top of this member a plate II I is placed, com-' pletely covering the tube I09, to seal the valve stem in the tube I09. The magnet supporting frame 99 operates through slots III in the plate the valve seat I05. When it is desired to open liquid when either of the control valves is set for car heating. In this form of the invention, each the safety valve I43 permits passage of the condensate. In the boiler I30, only three secondary chambers ar'eindicated in Fig. 7, but, obviously,

more or fewer chambers may be used.

,When mounting the boilers directly on the steam line, as shown in Fig, 2, it may be found necessary to provide two or more steam traps throughout the length of the car for removing from the system any condensate which may c01- lect in the steam line.

Referring to Fig. 8, three boilers 28 are shown spaced along the steam train line 32, and a trap I is positioned between the second and third boilers. Steam passes through this trap, but any water will drop to the bottom of the trap and be V discharged from the system through pipe I45.

III. -It is to be noted that the manual control valve is completely sealed, so that the difliculties caused by the presence'of dust and dirt on the valve seat are entirely eliminated.

The thermostatically controlled valve 43 (Fig. 3) comprises a base I I3, through which the ports pass, a housing II4 sealed to the base, an electromagnet II5 resting on the base, and a nonmetallic tube II6 lining the inner face of the electromagnet H5. The valve stem II] is housed inside the non-metallic tube H5, and this stem is secured to a soft iron armature II3, thelatter of which serves as an armature in the magnetic field. The housing H4 is secured in place by a machine screw H9 threading into a lug I29, which in turn is seated on the top of the tube H6; and a spring III is inserted between the top of the housing I I4 and the electromagnet H5.

In Fi 2, the return line from the car radiator is shown as extending all the way back to the boiler 23; but, as indicated in Fig. 7, it may be found desirable to tap the return line back into the riser, thus saving considerable piping. Al-

though no specific materials have been specified, it has been'found that stainless steel risers and returns are. extremely satisfactory, because the low conductivity of thi 'material minimizes heat losses and prevents the heating of portions of the car body where it is not wanted;

Tests have shown that the present heating system is highly efllcient and that a very even temperature can be maintained throughout the car without a continuous cycling of the system.

When the closed circulating system for the volatile liquid is first charged, this entire system is first exhausted of air to as high degree of vacuum as possible. and some suitable volatile liquid, such as ethyl alcohol, is inserted. Then the circulating system is sealed. Y

A small pipe I50 (Fig. 5) extends between riser 55 and return line 51, and serves to -vent air from the return line to prevent vapor lock in the system. l

The multiple boiler I30, shown in Fig. 7, may be mounted on a branch steam line instead of the a radiator train line. Pipe l3! may terminate at the boiler and not continue as shown at I 32 in Fig-'7.

I claim:

1. A modulated heating system including a boiler having a primary and a secondary chamber a pair oi'liquid lines, one from each of the chambers in the lower header and emptying into the secondary chamber of the boiler, and a receiver in in heat exchange relationship with each other,

a closed circulating system including a secondary chamber, a radiator, a vapor line, and two liquid return lines between the radiator and the secondary chamber, a volatile liquid in the closed system, the radiator being divided so that part of the condensed vapor passes out of the radiator and through one of the liquid return lines, and the remainder passes through the second liquid return line, and a valve in one of said return lines one of the liquid lines, a volatile liquid in the closed system, and a valve in said last named liquid line for controlling the flow of liquid from the receiver.

6. A modulated heating system including a boiler having a primary and a secondary chamber in heat exchange relationship with each other,

a radiator including horizontally extendi g spaced headers connected by vertical risers, the lower header being partitioned to form two separate chambers, a closed circulating system including for regulating the flow of condensate back to the boiler.

'2. A modulated heating system including a boiler having aprimary'and a secondary chamber in heat exchange relationship with each other,

a closed circulating system including a secondary chamber, a radiator, a vapor line, and two'liquid return lines between the radiator and the secondary chamber, a volatile liquid in the closed system, the radiator the condensed vapor passes out of the radiator and through one of the liquid return lines, and the remainder passes through the second liquid return line, athermostat responsive to temperatures in the space to be heated, and a valve in one of said return lines responsive to the action or the thermostat for regulating the flow or condensate back to the boiler.

3. A modulated heating system-including a boiler having a primary and a secondary chamber in heat exchange relationship with eachother, a closed circulating system including a seconda'rl chamber, a radiator, a vapor line, and two liquid return lines between the radiator and the secondary chamber, a volatile liquid in the closed system, the radiator being divided so that part of I the condensed vapor passes out of the radiator being divided so that part of the secondary chamber of the boiler, the radiator, a vapor line from the secondary to the upper riser. a pair of liquid lines, one from each of the chambers in the lower header and emptying into the secondary chamber or the boiler, and a receiver in one of the liquid lines, being divided on the discharge side of the receiver to form two lines in parallel, a volatil liquid in the closed system, a thermostatically controlled valve in one of, said parallel lines, and a manthe receiver.

ually controlled, normally closed valve in the other of said parallel liquid lines, either of said valves being'adapted to control the flow of liquor from 7.111 'a railway car having an overhead duct adjacent to the car roof and a steam train line underneath the car, a modulated heating system including a boiler underneath the car having a I primary and secondary chamber in heat exother, means for the prichange relationship with each supplying steam from the trainline to mary chamber, a radiator in the overhead duct and through one of the liquid return lines, and

the remainder passes through the second liquid return line, a thermostat responsive to temperatures in the space to be heated, a manually controlled valve and a thermostatically controlled valve in one of said' 'return'lines for regulating the flowo! condensate back to the" boiler.

4. A heating systemiior a railway car comprising a boiler having'a primary and a. secondary chamber in-heat exchange relationship with each other, heating meansin the primary chamber.

circulating system including the secondary chamber of the boiler, the radiator, and

a vapor line including horizontally extending spaced headers connected by vertical risers, the lower header being partitioned to form two separate chambers,

- a closed circulating system including the secondary chamber of the boiler, the radiator, a vapor line from the secondary chamber to the upper riser, a pair of liquid lines, one from each of the chambers in the lower header and emptying into the secondary chamberof the boiler, and a receiver in one of the liquid lines, a volatile liquid in the closed system, and a valve in said last named liquid line for controlling the flow oi! liquid from the receiver.

-8. A heating system including a boiler having primary and secondary chambers in heat exchange relationship with each other, a radiator in the space to be heated, a closed circulating in the car iorsupplylng heat, a closed and liquid-return line between the radiator and l secondary chamber, a volatile liquid inthe circulating system, a thermostat in the car, said liquid line including two lines in parallel, a valve responsive to the operation of the thermostat in one of the parallel lines, and a manually operated, normally closed valve in the other of said parallel lines, both of said valves controlling the circulation of the volatile liquid through the cirsystemiincluding the secondary chamber of the boiler, the radiator, a'vapor line irom the secondaryicha'mber to the radiator, and a liquid return lineffrom the radiator to the secondary chamber, a volatile liquid in the closed circulating system,

is thermostat responsive to temperatures in the spaceto be heated, a valve inthe liquid return line responsive to the thermostat for controlling the liquid flow through the circulating system, a second liquid return line from the radiator to the boiler secondary chamber, and a manually operated valve in the second return line which is. normally closed.

9. A heating system including a boiler having primary and secondary chambers in heat exchange relationship with each other, a radiator, in the space to be heated. a closed clrmflatint system including the secondary chamber of the boiler, the radiator, a vapor line from the secondary chamber to the radiator, and a liquid return line from the radiator to the secondary chamber, I

a volatile liquid in the closed circulating system,

said last named liquid line a thermostat responsive to the temperatures in the space to be heated, a valve in the liquid return line responsive to the thermostat for controlling the liquid flow through the circulating system, a second liquid return line from the radiator to the boiler secondary chamber, a manually operated valve in the second return line which is normally closed comprising a valve housing, a valve opening in the housing through which liquid passes in its path through the second liquid return line, a movable valve member in the housing adapted to close the valve opening, a permanent magnet around the movable valve member and outside the housing, an armature in the housing in the field'bf the magnet and secured to the movable valve member, and means manually manipulated from outside the housing for moving the magnet relative to the housing, thereby carrying with it the armature and movable valve member to open and close the valve.

10. In a railway car, a pipe extending lengthwise to the car, a primary heat source in the pipe, a plurality of heating radiators in the car and a secondary heating system including a secondary heating chamber in heat exchange relationship with the primary heat source, a vapor line and a liquid return line extending from each radiator to its respective secondary heating chamber, a volatile liquid in the secondary system, a valve in each liquid line for controlling the flow oi condensed liquid in the liquid line, and thermostatic means operatively connected to each valve and responsive to temperature conditions inside the car.

11. In a railway car, a primary heat source, a radiator in the car in the lower region thereof, a duct in the upper region of the car discharging into the car interior, a radiator in the duct, a secondary heating system adapted to supply heat exchange relationship with the primary heat source and pipes connecting the chamber to each radiator, a volatile liquid in each secondary sys- 13. In a railway car having thereunder a steam train line extending lengthwise of the car, a heating system for the car including a plurality of secondary chambers spaced lengthwise of the car and disposed in heat exchange relationship with the train line, a plurality of radiators in the car, a vapor line and a liquid return line connecting each radiator with one secondary chamber, and a valve in each liquid return line for controlling the flow of liquid in said line.

14. A modulated heating system including a boiler having a primary and a secondary chamber in heat exchange relationship with each other, a closed circulating system including a secondary chamber, a radiator, a vapor line, and two liquid return lines between the radiator and the secondary chamber, a volatile liquid in the closed system, the radiator being divided so that part of the condensed vapor passes out of the radiator and through one of the liquid return lines, and the remainder passes through the second liquid return line, a thermostat responsive'to temperatures inthe space to be heated, one of the liquid return lines being divided to provide two branch lines in parallel, a manually controlled valve in one branch line, and a thermostatically controlled valve in the other branch line responsive to said thermostat for regulating the flow of condensate back to the boiler.

15. In a railway car, a primary heat source, 'a'

, plurality of radiators in the car near the floor and 40 to each radiator including a chamber in heat arranged throughout the length of the car, a duct in the upper region of the car discharging into the car interior, a radiator in the duct, a secondary heating system adapted to supply heat to each radiator including a plurality of chambers in heat exchange relationship with the primary heat source, closed circulating systems for the secondary heating system including vapor lines and liquid return lines connecting the chambers to the radiators, a volatile liquid in the secondary heating system, valve means in the secondary ing system for the car including a plurality of secondary chambers spaced lengthwise of the car and surrounding the train line and in heat exchange relationship therewith, a volatile liquid in the chambers, a plurality of radiators in the car,

vapor lines and liquid return lines connecting the radiators to the secondary chambers, and a valve in each return line for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough.

system adapted to control the flow of the volatile liquid in said system, a thermostat responsive to temperatures inside the car for controlling the fiow for the lower radiator, and a thermostat in the duct for controlling the flow for the duct radiator.

16. A heating system including a boiler having LAWRENCE C ANDERSON. 

